Annual Pumpkin Patch Outing

Each year around this time, a random day in October is picked out by our culture committee at work and it's designated for any Southwest employees and their families to go to our local (huge and getting bigger every year!) pumpkin patch, which is just to the west and outside of Omaha near Gretna.
We reserve a tent, arrange for hot dogs for roasting, chips and sodas, marshmallows for toasting and a bon fire. The employees that have signed up in advance are given tickets to get in free and have the option to either go anytime during that day at their convenience or be there when the meal will be available. The culture committee pays for the entrance into the pumpkin patch.
Vala's Pumpkin Patch is locally owned and welcomes visitors in from anywhere. There are literally hundreds of people that come and go each day that they are open during the month of October and even the latter part of September. They have so many activities to do ranging from walking through mildly haunted houses to petting farm animals, eating your favorite kettle corn or turkey leg to having a sit down meal or taking a hay rack ride out to the over sized pumpkin patch. You can even pick out the pumpkin of your liking to take home. There are all sorts of home made goodies.....jams and jellies, fudge, pumpkin bars and the like. You definitely would never starve. There are many locations spread around the entire patch where you can reserve a spot with a bon fire pit. In that case you would provide your own meals and bring it in with you. If you do like our big group does from work, then you reserve a tent in case of chilly weather or rain and let them bring the food to you! I remember having those rainy nights in the past where the tent was definitely a welcome shelter! It made for a muddy walk around the patch as well.
This year I went just before the meal would be delivered. It was still daylight and the temperature was right at 50*. The sun made it nice and warm until it set. Then the night air became instantly chilly! Before the sun went down I walked around the entire patch and snapped pictures of the main attractions. I wanted you to see just what we get to take part in. It's so fun and if you ever get to Omaha in the fall, it's a must see while you're in town.
Here are the pictures that I took....Enjoy!

Click any photo for a close up...

The main entrance gate.

The jumping pillows

Near the pedal carts

The sign on the depot where you take hay rack rides.

Inside the mines (fake of course!) See the sleeping bear with the dolly? They are fearful of waking the bear in their effort to rescue the doll! (inside all the buildings there are recorded voices of conversation as if the little figures are speaking to each other. That's how you know what's going on in each scene.)

the mining tracks

Goes without saying....

All the characters move along with the music that they are singing.

The Pigtucky Derby pig races track. Yes, they bring out two brothers that have conversation and interact with the audience. Jokes are told, etc. Then there are several little pigs that race around the track. Very cute!

Pumpkin Tee Pee

Kids can wander through and pet little bunnies.

See the skeletons trying to fix the old truck? One is inside trying to start it up after the one on the outside tweaks the engine. Steam comes out, the sounds of attempting to start it up, etc., are seen and heard. Funny!

Mums for sale....so colorful!

The goats cross over some of the walkways below to get between their little corrals.

Over-sized rocking chair. Notice the kids sitting on it. And check out the sign on the rocker!
(click the photo for a closeup)

One area where you can pick out your favorite pumpkin or gourd. They are all for sale.

The Bones Family band. The music is cute...

Their close up....

Trying to keep the machinery going....which by the way is a long way from running!

The Barnyard band....

The entire stage...

Here is the pumpkin chunker....it shoots them way out into a field.

A ghostly ship of pirates.

The Mum Maze......very pretty.

Some old pumpkin cider drinking fellows with their mustached dog.

A couple of clumsy fellows....one of which is falling off the ladder that's going up to the loft of the barn.

This is just one small area that you can reserve a section for your group that includes a bon fire.

And yet more pumpkins!

Pumpkin Creek Sawmill.

Calamity Jans Mining Supply (the owner is named Jan Vala).

You can tell just looking at the pictures which ones were taken early in the evening. This is something for the entire family to enjoy. I would love to have my nieces here to take them there sometime! I know they would love it!